STANDING WATCH

She has a winning smile and an amazing personality! Almost two years ago she walked into my congregation. When I met her, we connected right away.

Soon, her cancer would flare up (“again” I later discovered) and I was in her life. It was my watch. You know what that means, don’t you? There is a season God gives to us where he brings others into our lives to pray for–to stand guard against the enemy’s fiery darts, and if the truth be told “the enemy’s missiles.” This was my season. This was my watch.

On this watch, I met friend after friend who hers who came to visit whether she was in the hospital or at home. Because she lives alone and is on a strict diet, they sometimes bring her food. I met . . .

• former neighbors who are now refurbishing a ’64 Mustang for her just to bless her! Amazing!
• a former boss from the military who stops by the hospital to visit her.
• another military friend whose whole family (husband, daughter, and mother) offers their home to her.
• another lifelong friend who has seen our friend through previous episodes, and is still standing watch.
• a woman who identified herself as my friend’s Sunday School teacher, neighbor and friend; she had brought goodies: a pumpkin to cheer her and watermelon to help fatten her. She proceeded to question my identity, making sure that my friend had good people around her.
• a neighbor who had mowed her lawn, to whom she had sent me with money for payment for his work. It was only upon her very adamant suggestion that he reluctantly accepted it.
• clergy from a Baptist Church and a Messianic Jewish congregation who came to pray with her.
• Her only sister  comes down from Michigan periodically and swaddles her with prayer, love, and a lot of TLC.
• Aunts from NY and NJ stay weeks at a time on their watch.
• A grandfather visits and bathes her in prayer.
• A daughter comes from college when she can and massages her, tells her all about college life, and graces her mother with her healing presence.

And of course my Bible study group that she joined prays constantly, visits, texts, and calls weekly.

And others in the congregation, one who just battled cancer herself, realizes it is her watch too.

Another who defeated cancer, along with her husband, prepares organic meals, meets with doctors and nurses, transports her family when they come to town, massages her, encourages her, stays in touch with family members . . . actually the list is endless, especially because she also knows that this is her watch, too.

WHAT’S THE POINT OF ALL THIS? Here it is. When I survey all I’ve written, I think about how God strategically mapped his daughter’s steps. He knew what was coming to my friend as a result of this fallen world in which we live. He knew the support group that she would need to beat this vicious, ugly, merciless enemy! He offered her a group that crosses racial divides, socio-economic lines, and religious ones as well. And she accepted and received those whom He sent!

• God knew that when she didn’t have the strength to lift her arms, she should not have to look around for an Aaron and Hur! They would be in place.
• When she could not carry herself to Yeshua, there would at least be four friends around her who put her on a gurney, opened up the roof, and lowered her in front of the Master.
• That when she could not run to him, there would be a friend (as there was for Lazarus) finding Yeshua and proclaiming, “Master, the one that you love is sick and needs you!”
• And when she couldn’t encourage herself like King David, someone who knew it was his/her watch would say to her, “Hope, thou, in God!!!!”

I told her, “Not only is this support group an indication of a life lived well, it is the favor of God upon you.”
“I never saw it as favor,” she said.

“It is His incredible love for you, Sis,” I told her.  “That’s the favor of God.”

We have no idea what we will have to endure in this life, but God does. He’s put people in your life. So this is what you’re to do: Build bridges and relationships that will last . . . just like my friend has. Then you will have those who will be standing watch for you!

PRAYER: Father, thank you for my amazing friend. Thank you for the spirit that she bears that is Your Spirit. There is a reason you have given her this amazing support group.  Raise her up healed and totally free from cancer to reveal to the world what a community of believers can do when we hope against hope in Yeshua’s Name, trust You to do what seems impossible, and rely upon a God who can call those things that are not as though they were. When it is our watch, help us to WATCH as well as pray! Amen.

Enjoy this song: “Friends Are Quiet Angels”